The Alyona Show: The World Chooses Sides

Published time: 2 Jun, 2010 17:00Edited time: 4 Jun, 2010 01:45

What will the political ramifications of the Gaza flotilla be? If there ever was a time to pick sides, this is it. And yet the US is stuck in an awkward state of limbo: Not condemning Israel, but not fully supporting it either. So will Israel turn the US into a global laughingstock? Alyona discusses with Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the Palestine Center, and Daniel Pollak, co-director of government relations for ZOA-National.

A press conference in Washington, DC by the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five revealed new evidence that the US Government covertly paid tens of thousands of dollars to supposedly independent Miami journalists working for major media outlets during the trials of the Cuban Five. Alyona speaks with Gloria La Riva, former presidential candidate and organizer with Free the Cuban Five to ask about the evidence proving that the US government had been paying journalists.

Then, the LA County board of supervisors voted 3 to 2 to boycott Arizona, and the LA Unified School District also condemned the law. Are boycotts the equivalent of domestic sanctions, that really only serve a symbolic purpose? Alyona talks with Juan Jose Gutierrez, president of Vamos Unidos USA.

Finally, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has announced his resignation less than a year after taking office. Alyona sits down with James Poulos, managing editor of Ricochet, to discuss why the actions of politicians in Japan and the US differ so much. Is resigning honorable, or just the easy way out?